Page 2296 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1945

success in spite of Rozelle being off colour & scarcely speaking - wearing a most frightful garment &
looking like nothing on earth. Later there was a big thunder storm & heavy rain & when that cleared I went
out with Lewis to see the Muharram procession, went to some matems & then saw it from the Persian
matems - very effective at night.

Monday 24th November

Ashur.

Gray day after heavy rain in the night, the town is a sea of buttery brown mud. Took M & the Holdstocks to
one of the new garden houses to view the procession & I & Perfect went out on foot - I in old clothes &
nailed shoes. Plunged about in the mud during most of the morning visiting matems & then walking from
the square & then back to the garden. The procession was not I think up to previous standards, fewer litters
& not so well done & very tawdry in the light of day, somehow the mud & gray sky didnt help it. There
were fewer people owing to quarantine.

Came back & went, after lunch, to meet Hills & Rusty Thornburg who arrived by flying boat. Rusty much
younger than I expected & very quiet. After tea, took R out to to call on the Hannas & then to a cocktail
party at the Leslie Smiths, a great crowd in a very small space & very hot. Gray weather & much mud &